According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for about 48% of energy costs in a typical American home. But that doesn't mean that's how much you should be paying. The following fuel-saving tips are brought to you by Monroe Oil, Rochester, NY's premier supplier of K-2 kerosene and affordable house heating oil products:

• Humidification: Most people know they should program their thermostats to be cooler while they're away or asleep, but they simply “tough it out” occasionally to save a few bucks. But it doesn't have to be that way! You can use a humidifier to moisten the air. In the same way high humidity makes summer temperatures “feel” higher than they really are, when you use a humidifier in the winter you can stay cozy even with the thermostat set to low.

• Home Insulation: Make every dollar count by ensuring your home is properly insulated: seal your doors, ductwork and cable installations, install better windows, upgrade your attic insulation—and don't let any heat escape. With many homes poorly sealed against the cold, hundreds of dollars in heating costs literally blow in the wind.
• Circulation: Ceiling fans aren't just for escaping summer heat. While counter-clockwise spinning fans push hot air up and away, clockwise-spinning fans running on a low setting can keep heat inside during the winter. Monroe Oil can track your oil usage, so you know exactly how much fuel you're saving—
  not to mention know when it's time to refill.
• Hot Water: Take a cue from the laundromat, and consider dialing back your hot water temperature. For even more savings, you can upgrade to a tankless on-demand water heating system that works in tandem with your existing home heating system.

To learn more about their affordable oil heating and fuel monitoring services, call Monroe Oil at (585) 244-4080 or visit them online.